Procedure
- Literature Circle: Ask students to meet in their Literature Circle groups to share the information in the folder. Take students through the necessary information as a large group and inform students about the number of days they will have to complete their novels. (Allow about 10 school days for Literature Circles to finish reading their novels.) (10 min.)
- Instruct Literature Circle groups to decide upon a reading schedule for their novels so that they are completed by an agreed upon date. They will need to decide how many pages or chapters must be read each day in order to complete the novel by the due date. (It is useful for each group member and the teacher to keep a record of each group's reading schedule for future reference.) (5-7 min.)
- Sustained Silent Reading: Have students read silently. Ask students to write brief responses as they read. Explain that these recorded responses will provide some starting points and ideas for Literature Circle discussions. (20-30 min.)
- Post-reading: Allow Literature Circles to meet for discussion about what they have read so far and to begin the projects in the folder, as previously instructed. As students discuss, circulate and encourage them to read aloud passages that support their statements or express an idea in a special way. Remind students that, even when they have finished reading the entire book, they are required to participate in their Literature Circle group discussions and projects. (10-15 min.)
Some Questions for Teacher Reflection
- Are there students who do not understand the way Literature Circle groups work? How can I help to clarify this for them?
- Did I effectively model SSR for the students?
Possible Mini-lesson Topic
- Present a mini-lesson about Literature Circles--their purposes, organization, and expectations. Provide each group with a folder containing the necessary information for their Literature Circle experiences. See the Reading section of this curriculum guide for examples of student information and Role Sheets that teachers may include in the folder. See the following page for a description of Literature Circle Projects.
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